Valley boys

A friend organised a blithely bonny evening of boxing nostalgia last week in Herefordshire’s little Welsh border town of Leominster to honour one-time British and Empire welterweight champion Cliff Curvis, who has close connections with the area. It is 60 years since the Swansea stripling of 17 first answered the bell for his opening round as a paid fighter. The officers and gentry of the British Boxing Board were all there, and a general throng flocked down from the hills to pay tribute. Compatriot Colin Jones, of the beaky kestrel’s nose and a similarly hurtful left-hook, who won the very same titles (except ‘Commonwealth’ for ‘Empire’) a quarter of a century after Cliff, made a touching speech, and fond messages were relayed from other Welsh champions, from Abercynon’s dancing sprite Dai Dower (72 this year) to Nicky Piper. Wales has a remarkable prizefighting heritage and its old boys’ freemasonry is a warm one.